Church Pageant

Sunday, December 15th was our Church Pageant.  The kids had been practicing during the previous few Sunday's and they did great!!  Reese did not participate, maybe next year!  She was not on her best behavior, not just at Church but all day.  We're not sure why!  Em knew every line, action and song by heart and Blake confidently delivered his one line, "I is for in God's love!"  Blake was quite nervous and had told us a few times, "I'm not going."  lol!  But he went and he rocked it ;)  It was fun for them to be a part of the pageant this year, as we missed last years!  We're looking forward to the PJ Church service on Christmas Eve.  It's like a birthday party for Jesus - complete with cake!

We're busy, busy, busy with Christmas preparations - shopping, baking, getting classmate and teacher gifts together, etc, etc.  I intended to volunteer for Santa's anonymous one Friday evening but with freezing rain, I didn't want to drive to the south side.  Another volunteer opportunity has popped up and I'm very excited to contribute.  This Sunday evening I am going to be handing out chili, hot chocolate, warm clothing and homemade baking at the Hope Mission in downtown Edmonton.  I joined a local group called, S.M.I.L.E. (Supporting Many Individuals by Lending Encouragement) Edmonton , and hope to volunteer more in the future.

Wishing everyone a great week-leading up to Christmas!!  Em and Blake's last day of school tomorrow and we are all off until January 6th - can not wait for some down time and family time :)

Take care,

Tracy

Pardon Me?!

Yesterday we were talking about Christmas and the kids were excitedly talking about how many sleeps until Santa comes, what they're going to get for Christmas, etc, etc.  I'll often try to remind them about the real meaning of Christmas and as I was starting to do my spiel yesterday, Emerson interrupted and did it for me!!  It's so interesting how she, more so than Reese and Blake, soaks up everything she hears at Sunday school.  After finishing my sentence, Emerson pauses and says, "And you know what I want the most for Christmas?"  I said, "No I don't, what do you want the most for Christmas?"  Emerson says, "My families love."  Now where in the world would she have heard that or came up with that from?!?  She often catches us so off guard with the things she says!!!!

~ Tracy

Family Date!

Today was family date day in our house!!  Blake and Cal had hockey practice early this morning and when they got home we told the kids we were taking them to the Disney movie Frozen and then out for supper.  They were sooooo excited, I love seeing them that way :)  I said, "Hey guys, do you want to go see Frozen this afternoon and then to BP's for supper?"  Blake said, "Whaaaat???!!  Frozen, the movie?!  YEAHHHHH!!!!"  Em and Reese were also bouncing around, excited!  I love, love, love that what we think are 'simple' things, continue to excite them.  We will enjoy that for as long as we can!!!

The movie was awesome, we all enjoyed it.  This was Reese's 1st movie theatre experience and she did great!  She sat in her own seat for a little over an hour and then stood up to stretch out and sit on Cal's lap for the remainder of the movie :)  After the movie we went to BP's and had a nice dinner!  It was a great afternoon/evening!

Tomorrow the kids are in the pageant at Church.  I'm not sure if Reese will participate ... I've brought her to the last 2 Sunday school classes and she has rehearsed but I'm not sure she'll want to participate in front of the entire congregation!!  We'll play it by ear!  Em is ready to go, she knows all her parts, songs, etc and Blake is nervous!!  He has one line, "I is for in God's love."  I will let you know how it goes ... hopefully he can overcome his shyness and deliver his line!!

ttyl :)

Tracy

Grateful

This afternoon Emerson and Reese came up with a really cute game.  They took turns playing Santa Claus!  One girl would pretend to be sleeping on the couch while the other (Santa) hid a toy in her stocking.  Santa would then go back to being herself and wake the other girl up, saying, "Look, look, Santa came!!"  It was soooo sweet and cute to watch them play this game and come up with all the rule's, etc.  One of those moments that make me so thankful that I get to spend every day with them :)

BTW, I've been really behind on my blogging!!  So there will be some post's that will pop up from November that I've been working on but haven't posted, if you want to check some of the back-dated post's, there will be new ones :)

xo
Tracy

Oil Kings Game

You can see the front of Blake, red jersey on the far right!

On Saturday, November 16th, some of the second year Initiation 2 KC St. Matthew's players, played during the intermission at the Oil Kings game.  Blake was one of them!  I was so excited for him!!  Cal was down in the dressing room getting him ready and was able to be on the bench during the short game.  My Dad and I caught the game from the stands!  It was very quick, a few minutes, maybe 4?  But the kids thought it was pretty cool to play on the ice at Rexall Place and enjoyed watching the Oil Kings game!  1 goal was scored and although we didn't see who shot the puck into the net, Blake and some of the other players out there say it was Blake ;)  Quite the experience for the little guys, one we will never forget!

Cheering on the Oil Kings!!

Blake, Dad and I

Celebrating Reese!!

Opening gift's the morning of her birthday!

Cupcakes on her birthday!

Cal rearranged his EDO and took Reese's birthday off instead of his usual Monday.  Reese was very excited to open her gifts from us the morning of her birthday!!  We got a good preview of what Christmas might be like!  She ripped right in to them, it was great!  It was out the door bright and early, as we dropped Blake off at school and headed to the south side.  I had a long-standing appointment to have our van detailed, so Cal and the girls picked me up there and then we went to the Terwillegar Rec Centre for swimming and play gym fun.  The girls had fun swimming, the little fish that they are and enjoyed the indoor play gym.  It was such a cold day!!!  Winter has officially 'hit' Edmonton :s  Next up was lunch and Reese chose McDonald's!  After some time in the McDonald's play place, we picked up the van and headed home.  The girls and I had fun making cupcakes for Reese's birthday dinner and a few extras for her party on the 23rd.  Reese requested spaghetti for her birthday dinner, it is one of her favorites!!  We all had a fabulous, fun day :)  Just wish Blake could have been with us for the entire day.  I would have let him play 'hookie' but that would not have been cool with Blake!!!

On the 23rd we had a birthday party for Reese at our house.  I had asked her if she would like to go somewhere for her party but she wanted to have her party at home :)  We had the Streadwick's, Parenteau's, Stony Plain Cameron's and Grandma and Grandpa D over for an afternoon of playing, pizza and cake!  Reese wanted a Dora Mermaid theme and thanks to Etsy and Ebay I found invitations and an edible cake topper!!  She also loved her Dora balloons and banner :)  I think this was the year that Reese really 'got' that it was her special day!  I could tell that she felt very special and enjoyed all the celebrations!!!  Thank you to everyone for your part in her special day!

xo
Tracy

Family photo at Reese's 3rd birthday party!

Mermaid Dora cake!

Backpack loot bags made by Tracy, Emerson & Reese!

Happy 3rd Birthday baby girl!

Sweet Reese ~ 3 years old

Today you turned 3!  3 whole years!  Your first 3 years have passed unbelievably fast.

We love you more than words could ever express.  Your Dad, sister, brother and I all dote on you and adore you :)  You are so lucky to have 2 of the best older siblings!!  They are so kind and loving and patient with you, it is truly heart-warming for us to see.  You are very close with Emerson and I pray you always stay that way.  Being 21 months apart, I can see the potential for a wonderful friendship and support system amongst the two of you.  You can fight like cats and dogs too but for the most part, you are the best of friends :)  Emerson behaves very 'motherly' towards you!!  Blake has always adored you, right from the first time he met you in the hospital.

You are my little cuddle bug and like to always be close to me.  I find that hard at times but then I stop and think and realize you are already 3 and before long you will be much more independent and I will miss this stage.  I think you have heard us telling people you are shy, because you now tell us, "I'm shy."  You don't open up to people really quickly and prefer to play by yourself when amongst kids you don't know.  But you do play great with your brother and sister and a few of your friends :)  You most certainly are shy, but we're working on helping you break out of your shell a little bit!!  You love Come Play With Me at the YMCA and most especially Miss Christine! Often when we ask you where you learned something, you reply, "At Miss Christine's class!!"  You know most of your colors and shapes and can count to 15 and sing your ABC's!  We definitely don't work on these skills with you as often as we did with your brother and sister!  Sorry about that, but I have a feeling you pick up a lot from Blake and Em and you are a very smart little girl :) You have even picked up some French from listening to Blake do his homework!!  You love to swim and are missing your swimming lessons, since you are not registered at the moment. When we register you again, you will be in unparented lessons.  Dad has been to soooo many parented lessons, it will be strange to not have him in the water with you!!  We recently went public skating as a family and were shocked at how well you skated!!  You fell down and were able to get up all by yourself, we were very impressed!  We can't wait to take you skating again :)  You love to read and I hope that will continue throughout the years.  You like to pull all the books off the book shelf and flip through them!  Sometimes I will find you in your room, on your glider, reading a book :)  You also love to do arts and crafts and looooove any craft involving glue!!  You also love Lego and enjoy sitting at the Lego table with Blake!

We can't wait to explore your third year with you Reesey!!!  We love you to the moon and back and are so proud of the little lady you are becoming :)

xoxo

Mom & Dad